If you Really Must Cram for the JLPT

I know I can get one more vocabulary word in there

Cramming is generally considered a bad thing.  We’ve been told since a very young age that it is kind of a bad idea to try to cram knowledge into your head before a test, but we are also told that fast food will kill us but I will still go to McDonald’s to eat a Chicken Tatsuta when it is available.  It is just something that I do no matter what the warnings.

And cramming is the same way.  No matter what you seem to do, even if you plan things out and schedule your studying time, it seems like you always need to do a little bit of cramming before the main event.  I also feel like you really need to get into ‘test mode’ before the exam as well.  You should be able to answer questions in a heartbeat and have great reading speed.

It is, of course, crucial at this stage to spend your time very effectively to get the most out of your studying.  You need to focus on the handful of things that will be able to gain you a few points on the test with the least amount of work.

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I personally use all of these on a daily basis and highly recommend them.

Use vs. Knowledge

In order to use a language, you need to have two things – the knowledge of the words and grammar, and the ability to use that knowledge.  These are two different things that require two different methods to study them.  There is a little bit of overlap sometimes that comes between them, but for the most part you’ll have to use a different set of tools to strengthen these weaknesses.

Knowledge of the language generally takes a little bit longer to master.  You have to practice vocabulary for example with a spaced repetition system or flashcards.  Or for grammar you have to do a few exercises and study the nuances of it.  It is a lot of raw information that you need to get into your head through repetition and memory tricks.

The use of language though is a little different.  This is pretty much the physical use of the language where you are reading, listening, writing, and speaking it.  After all, what is the point of having all the knowledge, but not be able to use it.  These skills can be faster to pick up if you have all the knowledge you need to understand a passage for example.

When you go to Cram

It’s best to move more of your skill practice back to just before the test (around a month).  This will give you the best bang for buck for a couple of different reasons as I see it.

First, you’ll be reviewing the vocabulary and grammar you know, assuming you are studying material that is the appropriate level for you.  Furthermore, you’ll be seeing the grammar and vocabulary in context so that you can reinforce what you know.  This will help to deepen your understanding which in turn will allow to be more confident on the test.

Second, it is sometimes the more interesting thing to study.  Chances are in the last month before the test, you’ll be packing in a lot of studying.  There will be some long days where you’ll be trying to do as much studying as you can.  You might as well be doing something that is a little more motivating.  Reading through a passage and trying to puzzle out the meaning tends to be more interesting than working your way through a grammar drill book.

I’ve actually gone over the benefits of doing some Japanese reading before the test in another post.  A lot of people dread the thought of having to crack a big thick book, but it can be a great challenge and the perfect way to study vocabulary.

How do you Cram?

If you really must cram, how do you do it?  Do you have a specific method?  Let me know in the comments below.

Photo by Michael